The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-26
KING BANKS OF RARETONGA.

ployed nineteen hours.
KING BANKS OF RAREToNGA.
An Albany Young Man Who Has Come
to Great Things Out There.
From the NeD York. World
That wickedness sometimes prospers is
evidenced by the rather romantic career
within the last few months of Charles w.
Banks, formerly of Albany, this State, later
of San Francisco, Cal, and now elevated
by the power of love to the throne of King
of Cooks Island, in the South Pacific
ocean. A history of Mr.. Banks
life in Albany would add so little
interest to his later life that it is unneces-
sary to refer to it now, except to state that
in that rolling town he married a very in
teresting yoIng lady. for whom, according
to his latest bitter to friends in this city, he
still enterx4 hs the most touching affection.
1t is also Ardly necessary to say that the
lady in question, Mrs. Fanny A. Banks, who
| is now in this city, places so little faith in
these assurances of unbounded love that she
has begun a divorce suit and charges his
kingship with desertion and infidelity.
Soon after the marriage of the couple
they journeyed to San Francisco, where
Mr.. Banks, being intelligent and bright, as
well as a handsome young man, obtained
employment in the express Office of Wells
Fargo & Co. There he prospered; pros
pered too well for his personal good, for
having obtained a position of trust. and
gained the entire confidence of his en-
ployers, he suddenly disappeared six months
ago, carrying with him over $50, 900 belong
ing to the company. His many friends at
the Golden Gate mourned his departure, for
he was a good fellow, reckless with
his money, an interesting talker and
good story teller, while his little suppers
at home and at his club were the talk of So
ciety for days after each event. Mrs.
Banks, too, mourned his loss, but her rea-
sons were widely different, and she came to
this city after gathering enough evidence in
San Francisco to prove to her that her h,Is-
band had not been all that she had expected
Consulting the law firm of MeSSrs. Johnes,
Benner q Wilcox here, the papers for a di-
vorce were properly drawn up, but pending
information as to the whereabouts of her re-
creant husband, she withheld proceedings
Meanwhile Wells, Fargo & Co. had sent
| detectives after the defaulter, who tracked
him to Tahiti, Sandwich Islands, but the
willy young man fed in a schooner a few
hours before the sleuth-hounds of the law
reached there. From this point the gay de-
faulter's movements much resemble those of
Billy Kid, the illustrious hero whom Rosina
VoEeS sings about in her clever song, His
Art was True to Poll" Like Billy Kid,
Mr.. Banks:
Landed on a strange shore and looked out for
an inn
When a noble savage lady, of a color rather
shady
Came along and accosted him.
"Oh! stay with me and the King you'll be,
And in palace lol
Or I'll eat you like fillet;" so he gave his hand,
But bis Art was true to Poll.
Mr. Banks was certainly in luck He had
sailed away from Tahiti for a point any
where out of the grasp of the law, and
favoring gales had directed his craft to the
shores OF Raretonga, Cooks. Island in the
South Pacific, where th6~beautiful but
dusky Queen Ulalzea Ulakea in English,
but something else in her own picturesque
language) reigned quietly and kindly over
her loving tribe. She is a widow, but
ceased abruptly to grieve for her departed
lord when the handsome face and manly
bearing and figure of Mr.. Banks doomed up
before her in her quiet, luxurious home.
He was wanderer, weary and forlorn, and
she a widow, sad and lonely, but with lots
of this worlds goods and a large heart,
which she unhesitatingly threw at his feet.
Her kindness won him, coupled with his
own Yankee ingenuity, which told him that
he had struck it rich, to use an American
ism, and he awaited himself of the fortunate
opportunity equally as unhesitatingly as it
had been opened to him.
There, at Raretonga, safe from the laws
strong grasp where the climate is glorious
and warm all the year round, Banks Is now
living, duly domesticated and acknowledged
as King, and receiving the homage of the
people, who adore him, because their beloved
Queen had set them the example. The de
tectives who found him there say he ex-
presses no desire to return 10 his native
country, but seems satisfied to continue his
life of idlenesS and power.
Mrs. Banks has heard of her husbands
fortune and has decided to begin divorce
proceedings at once. Her counsel, Edward
r. Jones, appeared before Judge Lawrence,
in the Supreme Court chambers yesterday
and obtained an order for the publication Of
a summons in the suit, a copy of which win
be mailed to King Banks ]. at his palace
at Raretonga. Although Mrs. Banks had
sufficient evidence TO secure a divorce
without reference TO her husbands present
position, the detectives who have traced Mr..
Banks and discovered his new mode Of life
will make affidavits which will be used in
the suit in order to show the mans utter
unworthiness. Wells, Fargo q Co., have
not given up hope of bringing Banks to
Justice or of obtaining from ~ the money
he embezzled. Banks Tightly he time Of
the discovery of his theft crtT a sensa-
ton. The publication of lAd absequent
movements will probably pm greater
surprise TO the many sQ4t people
Of both San Francisco andtId ~ who
know him and his wife. .